City chase quadruple as United aim to spoil Tuchel’s record
Manchester City have set their sights on a clean sweep of the four major trophies as the runaway Premier League leaders prepare to host high-flying West Ham this weekend.
To have any chance of puting City under pressure, second-placed Manchester United must end Thomas Tuchel’s unbeaten start as Chelsea boss.
CITY FLEX MUSCLES: Manchester City’s march to the top of the Premier League was not a surprise given their title-winning pedigree, but their record-breaking surge has fuelled belief that they can achieve greatness.
City chalked up their 19th successive win in all competitions -- a record for an English top-flight side -- as they eased to a 2-0 victory at Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League last-16 first leg on Wednesday.
Pep Guardiola’s side are 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League, face Totenham in the League Cup final and have reached the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Bernardo Silva, who was on the scoresheet against Borussia, gave voice to City’s swaggering confidence ater they moved a step closer to an unprecedented quadruple.
Unbeaten in 26 matches stretching back to November, Silva said City could set a new standard of excellence ater their domestic treble two years ago.
MAN.UTD FACE TUCHEL TEST: Manchester United are the closest challengers to Manchester City, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men will need a major collapse from their rivals if they are to win the title for the first time since 2013.
Victory at Chelsea on Sunday is essential to keep United’s faint hopes alive.
That will not be easy given the Blues’ revival under former Paris Saint-germain boss Thomas Tuchel.
Since replacing the sacked Frank Lampard in January, Tuchel has won six of his eight games in all competitions to lit Chelsea up to fith place.
But United are unbeaten in five league games and their forward Marcus Rashford believes they are becoming a force to be reckoned with.
“I think we’ve said all season that we’re a team that’s still improving, learning lessons about ourselves every game,” he said.
“We have to concentrate on ourselves and keep giving the best version of us. Ultimately that’s going to make us win the games.”
Alli comes in from the cold Ater spending much of the season cast into exile by Jose Mourinho,
Dele Alli’s return to form has given the Totenham manager a welcome selection headache.
Alli appeared close to leaving on loan during the January transfer window before the club reportedly blocked the England midfielder’s attempt to rejoin his former Totenham boss Mauricio Pochetino at PSG.
The 24-year-old has since held clear-the-air talks with Mourinho and has been reintegrated into the squad.
Alli used Wednesday’s 4-0 Europa League win over Wolfsberger to underline his qualities, scoring a brilliant overhead kick and providing two assists.
Ninth-placed Totenham must beat Burnley on Sunday to get back in top-four contention.
Premier League fixtures (GMT): Saturday: Manchester City vs West Ham (1230), West Brom vs Brighton (1500), Leeds vs Aston Villa (1730), Newcastle vs Wolves (2000) Sunday: Crystal Palace vs Fulham (1200), Leicester vs Arsenal (1200), Totenham vs Burnley (1400), Chelsea vs Manchester United (1630), Sheffield United vs Liverpool (1915) Monday: Everton vs Southampton (2000)